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Outsourcing the Mind

This week Kirsty is asking us what we would outsource if we could. I would love to outsource all of the usual stuff, housework, cooking, housework, the bedtime routine, housework. Have I mention I don’t like housework?

Jokes aside though, if I could outsource anything it would be a close tie between my decision making and just having someone to take my brain for a few hours. Although I guess those two could intertwine.

Deep down I don’t think I could give up my decision making completely. I am a bit of a control freak and I don’t think I could handle having absolutely no say in the way that my life goes. I already feel a little helpless with most it now, I don’t think I could give up that last little bit of control.

However if there was a way that I could just take my brain out, put it in a bowl next to my bed for the night and go to sleep then I would be first to sign up for it! I would even settle for something like the bowl in Harry Potter where Dumbledore draws his memories out of his head with his wand. It would also be super helpful for therapy sessions to just hand the bowl over and have all of your painful, life changing memories in one place.

I have been struggling to get to sleep lately, this is nothing new for me though. I lay in bed thinking about all of the stupid things I have said and done that day, everyday. It would be amazing the mortifying things I can remember..if it wasn’t all so hurtful.

I would love to be able to just switch it all off for a few hours. I hate the constant chatter inside my head. Some days it feels like I can’t do anything without the thoughts trailing off to something unpleasant. I feel tortured by my mind. I put the pillow over my head, squeeze my eyes shut tighter, willing the thoughts away. The only thing this does is make them more prevalent. Have you noticed the more you try not to think or feel something, the more you struggle with it?

I want to escape but I know that that won’t help in the long run. I know that the same things will happen over and over again unless I work through them. I know that the ostrich approach of sticking my head in the sand won’t make one iota of difference. Running away will only give me short term gain with long term pain. I will always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for it all to catch up with me again.

So maybe I will just stick to outsourcing the practical stuff..now to just win the lotto so I can afford that house cleaner and cook!

I need one of those bowls, if I could’ve drawn out all my issues it would saved years of torturing myself physical and emotionally for something that wasn’t my fault but then I wouldn’t be who I am today (which is totally rad btw lol.)

I’ve realised I have tendency to anxiety when I feel like my grip on the reins is slipping away. Money is a massive cause of concern but I think that comes from my overall need to feel secure and safe. Whenever I freak out about stuff I step back and ask myself what am I truly afraid of then try to address that instead of worrying myself into a bottomless pit.

I would LOVE to outsource the chatter in my head, it drives me crazy and makes me question myself. I’d also like to outsource my ideas, I have the idea and someone can do it for me. I have a book full of ideas with not enough time to implement them!

YES omg I totally have the same problem at night. When my insomnia was super bad I found trying not to think about thinking just made it even worse because then I would overthink trying not to think about it errgg so frustrating.

I gave up coffee for a week and actually started sleeping better, my mind wasn’t racing so much and exhaustion kicked in. Oddly enough after years of being a night owl I was momentarily a morning person. A rather productive one as well… but here I am now after 2 coffees today still awake at almost 1am.

Wow that’s great. I don’t drink coffee but occasionally drink coke. There doesn’t seem to be a difference in how much sleep I get though so I don’t seem to be too sensitive to caffeine. I used to have a friend though that if she had any kind of caffeine after lunch time she wouldn’t sleep a wink.

I would love a pensieve too Tegan, not just for me but for my kids. My two eldest always struggle to get to sleep as it’s when they slow down at night that their anxieties come to the fore. It would be beyond amazing to be able to help their minds rest at night so they can have relief.

I would like to outsource exercise … but reap the physical rewards myself. A bit like outsourcing the brain … I’m just not sure it’s possible and I may have to stick to the normal stuff.
I actually have a cleaner. Only once a month but it is a sanity saver. So I’m half way there.
Happy Friday!
L

Tegan as a started to read your post I thought of Dumbledore – and there you used the analogy! Great minds think a like. I’m not too bad with decision making if I’m on my own, but when it will affect those around me I second guess everything.

I like this description of putting your brain in a bowl as sometimes it seems like the only solution. I have found on the nights I do not spend on the computer I sleep better. Do you try reading a book until you can no longer keep your eyes open to try and avoid the lying there staring at the ceiling? I think along with depression it is also a common female issue we just worry too much! Wishing you restful sleep.